Echeveria plant named ‘AMIECH2009’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Echeveria hybrid plant named ‘AMIECH1009’ which is characterized by flat, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate foliage with an obtuse to cuspidate apex, crenulate foliar margins that are slightly to moderately undulated, yellow-green mature foliage is prominently margined with a translucent light greyed-green color, strongly glaucous juvenile and mature foliage that is heavily covered with a layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces which gives the foliage a paled greyed-green appearance with a cyanic hue, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria lilacina x E.parva.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH2009’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2021/0039, filed Jan. 6, 2021, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH2009’ is an interspecific hybrid seedling selectionresulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Echeverialilacina plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamedEcheveria parva plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossingwas made by the inventor in the spring of 2016 at a commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2017, oneseedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliagecharacteristics. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation inorder to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristicsfirst observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability,‘AMIECH2009’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIECH2009’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe autumn of 2017 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH2009’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIECH2009’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIECH2009’ as a new and distinct Echeveria hybridcultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH2009’ exhibits a flattened to flattened globular plant        profile with foliage somewhat loosely held in a basal rosette;        and    -   2. ‘AMIECH2009’ exhibits flat, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate        foliage with an obtuse to cuspidate apex; and    -   3. ‘AMIECH2009’ exhibits crenulate foliar margins that are        slightly to moderately undulated; and    -   4. ‘AMIECH2009’ exhibits yellow-green mature foliage that is        prominently margined with a translucent light greyed-green        color; and    -   5. ‘AMIECH2009’ exhibits strongly glaucous juvenile and mature        foliage that is heavily covered with a layer of greyed-green        epicuticular wax on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces which        gives the foliage a pale greyed-green appearance with a cyanic        hue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIECH2009’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 25 week-old, shown planted inan 8.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIECH2009’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH2009’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH2009’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2021describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 25 week-old‘AMIECH2009’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH2009’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH2009’ and comparisons with the parentplants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened to flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—4.5 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 12.1 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 25 weeks to produce a marketable plant in an            8.5 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 40 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to narrowly obovate.        -   Dimensions.—5.1 cm long, 2.75 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is            held upright; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorls of mature foliage; mature foliage            is held at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to cuspidate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire, proximally, and becoming crenulate towards            the apex; margins are lightly to moderately undulate.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Smooth, glabrous, and strongly glaucous.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Smooth, glabrous, and strongly glaucous.        -   Luster of the adaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Luster of the abaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 143B, and narrowly margined with a translucent            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193D. The epicuticular glaucous            wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 188A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest            to RHS 138B, and narrowly margined with a translucent            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193D. The epicuticular glaucous            wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 188A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and 146B, and narrowly            margined with a translucent greyed-green, nearest to RHS            193D. The epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf            surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A. Mature            foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a            mixture of RHS 146B and 147B, and narrowly margined with a            translucent greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193D. The            epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf surface is            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A. Venation, adaxial surface            — No visible venation. Venation, abaxial surface — No            visible venation.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence : No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2009’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Echeveria lilacina plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2009’ The seed parent. Foliar margins.Crenulate; lightly Entire; not undulated. undulated. General colorationPale greyed- Pale greyed-white and lightly of the foliage. green with ato moderately suffused with light cyanic hue. red-purple; narrowlymargined red-purple.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2009’ differ from the pollen parent,an unnamed Echeveria parva plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2009’ The pollen parent. Foliar margins.Crenulate; lightly Entire; not undulated. undulated. General colorationPale greyed-green In between very pale greyed- of the foliage. with agreen to green-white; tipped slight cyanic hue. greyed-red.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2009’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, Echeveria lilacina ‘OVPEARLS09’ (not patented),in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2009’ ‘OVPEARLS09’ Foliar margins.Crenulated. Entire. Presence of globular None present. Present. growthson the abaxial foliar surface. General coloration Pale greyed-green Adarker shade of greyed- of the mature foliage. with a slight cyanicgreen by comparison to hue. ‘AMIECH2009’. Distal portion of Narrowlymargined Conspicuously margined the leaf margins. with a translucentgreyed-purple, generally greyed-green. appearing red.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriahybrid plant named ‘AMIECH2009’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.